Friday, February 26, 2016

BALON DAGUPAN TEAM IS SECOND BEST IN THE R1AA

DAGUPAN CITY – For the first time, the Balon Dagupan team finished second best in the over-all official ranking in the Region 1 Athletic Association Meet in San Carlos City, Pangasinan with 44 gold, 38 silver, 38 bronze medals.

From number seven in the last R1AA, Dagupan climbed to number two over-all this year.

Dagupan City was declared champion in the elementary level with 20 gold, 17 silver and 18 bronze medals and first runner-up in the secondary level with 24 gold, 21 silver and 20 bronze medals.

Commissioner Finnela T. Sim of the Dagupan City Sports Commission (DCSC) disclosed that this was the first time that the elementary level clinched the championship crown and the second spot over-all in the history of R1AA.

The Balon Dagupan swimming team contributed much of the total gold, silver and bronze medals of the city along with arnis, basketball, athletics, chess, badminton, table tennis, taekwondo, volleyball and gymnastics.

In the secondary level, the city’s arnis boys team won one gold, three silver and one bronze; the arnis girls team won one silver and three bronze; athletics boys team one silver while the athletics girls team won one bronze while the badminton team in the girls and boys division won one bronze each.

The boys basketball team also won gold in a do-or- die finale with Pangasinan II who had been leading the game by 24 points in the second quarter. The Balon Dagupan Team made a good turn-around in the fourth quarter with the three point shots of Russel Manaois ending the game with a four point win over Pangasinan II for the final score of 84-80.

Basketball girls ended second over a two point loss with San Carlos City and settled for a silver medal. The chess boy’s team won silver and a bronze.

The gymnastic team gave a surprise performance by winning five gold, two silver and two bronze medals in women’s artistic gymnastics; one bronze in men’s artistic gymnastics and another one in rhyme group.

The Balon Dagupan swimming team (boys) won 11 gold, six silver and two bronze; while the girls team won six gold, four silver and three bronze.

Table tennis girls won one bronze while the taekwondo team girls won two silver and the taekwondo boys team won three bronze medals.

In the elementary level, the city earned gold in arnis (boys) with three silver and two bronze medals while the girls’ team won two gold, three silver and one bronze.

A gold in basketball boys; one silver in athletics boys; two silver in badminton boys; one bronze in women’s artistic gymnastics; two bronze in taekwondo boys; one silver in taekwondo girls; and two bronse each in volleyball boys and girls.

The Balon Dagupan boys swimming team won nine gold, five silver and seven bronze while the girls’ team won seven gold, two silver and three bronze medals.

Schools Division Superintendent Froserfina J. Bravo attributed the city’s success in the R1AA to the city government’s all-out support under the leadership of Mayor Belen T. Fernandez.

“The city government’s support has inspired our athletes so much to go for gold especially Mayor Belen and the Dagupan City Sports Council and the Dagupan City Athletic Association,” said Bravo.

Bravo expressed hopes that in the next R1AA, the city will finally be on top and be known as the home of the best athletes in Region 1.

“The top post is already within our reach especially with the results of our performance this year. There can be no doubt that we can get the over-all championship in the R1AA next time,” said Bravo.

Sim on the other hand believes that the good working partnership of the Local Government Unit of Dagupan City and the Department of Education through Bravo has played a greater role that leads to the implementation of a comprehensive sports program in the city. (Joseph C. Bacani/CIO/Feb. 26, 2016)